Thread forming capping head

ABSTRACT

A novel capping head is disclosed for effecting the thread forming of a generally cylindrical closure cap disposed over male threads about an open neck portion of a container such as a bottle. The capping head comprises an annular or ring-like roller having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the closure cap. The annular roller is mounted within a housing and is initially selectively positioned about the closure cap such that the roller encircles the cap. The housing is then tilted from its central axis such that the inner periphery of the annular roller therein contacts the closure cap. Rotation of the housing in a conical eccentric manner effects eccentric movement of the annular roller about and relative to the closure cap such that the inner periphery of the roller deformably engages the outer periphery of the closure cap and forms threads therein.

United States Patent [1 1 Fauth 51 Sept. 11, 1973 THREAD FORMING CAPPING HEAD [75] Inventor: Frederick E. Fauth, Baltimore, Md.

[73] Assignee: American Bottlers Equipment Company, Baltimore, Md.

22 Filed: Dec. 30, 1971 211 App]. No.: 214,173

Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver Attorney-Herbert 1. Cantor and Dennis O. Kraft [57] ABSTRACT A novel capping head is disclosed for effecting the thread forming of a generally cylindrical closure cap disposed over male threads about an open neck portion of a container such as a bottle. The capping head comprises an annular or ring-like roller having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the closure cap. The annular roller is mounted within a housing and is initially selectively positioned about the closure cap such that the roller encircles the cap. The housing is then tilted from its central axis such that the inner periphery of the annular roller therein contacts the closure cap. Rotation of the housing in a conical eccentric manner effects eccentric movement of the annular roller about and relative to the closure cap such that the inner periphery of the roller deformably e11 gages the outer periphery of the closure cap and forms threads therein.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED l 73 SHEET 1 or 5 PATENTED SEP] 1 I975 sum 3M3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to techniques for applying closure caps to containers, and particularly concerns a novel capping machine or head for effecting the thread forming of a closurecap disposed over male threads about an open portion of a container.

Threaded closure caps adapted to be secured over male threads disposed about the discharge opening of a container such as a bottle have enjoyed increasing popularity in the industry primarily due to the capability of such closure caps to be utilized in resealing a previously opened container and thus preserving the container contents. This resealing capability is to be sharply contrasted with closure caps of the crimp-on variety, which caps, when initially removed, are physically deformed so as to preclude their further use as a resealing member.

Threaded closure caps are normally of the roll-on or screw-on constructional variety with so-called screwon caps generally being prethreaded prior to initial application over the male threads about the discharge opening of a container. On the other hand, roll-on closure caps generally'comprise cylindrical blanks and are normally initially disposed over the male threads about the open portion of a container and then subsequently deformed while on the container by a roller tool member whereby complementary threads are formed in the cap in cooperable engagement with the male threads on the container. Such closure cap deformation is possible due to the fact that the typical closure cap is constructed of a material such as aluminum, for example, which is considerably softer thanthe material of the container itself, such as glass.

Many devices and mechanisms have been developed in the prior art to accomplish the thread forming of a closure cap over the male thread provided in the manufacture of'a container, as above-discussed. Such devices are of the variety wherein the thread forming roll or rollers are positioned within a housing at a location which is external with respect to the initially unthreaded closure cap disposed on the container; Once the housing is properly positioned, theforming roll or rollers of the prior art devices are then radially moved or swung into a position which places the rollers in deformable contact with the outer periphery of the thread forming cap. The radial roller movement normally takes place while the rollers and the housing are rotating about the stationary container, the rollers, and particularly the outer periphery thereof, deformably engaging the outer periphery of the closure cap so as to form complementary threads therein. Subsequent to the thread forming function, the forming roll or rollers are then swung back out into an inactive position and the housing is withdrawn from the container.

As should be apparent from the above brief description, a number of undersirable characteristics are evident with respect to prior art thread forming devices. For one, the provision of a forming roll or rollers which are positioned externally of the closure cap and which must be swung into and out of an engaged position with respect to the closure cap requires a significant space allotment, particularly in a multiple head or housing arrangement. This space requirementoftentimes causes an undesirable relationship between the pitch or center distance of the forming rollers to the corresponding centers of an affiliated filling mechanism. Additionally, the thread forming rollers of such prior art devices normally have a relatively small radius when compared with the radius of the cylindrical closure cap and such small radius rollers tend to closely follow any variation or deformation of the male threads formed about the container itself. The non-uniform thread form thereby produced on the closure cap results in a markedly increased unthreading torque which makes the closure cap difficult to be hand removed by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It should thus be apparent that a need exists in this art for the provision of a capping head which effects the thread forming of a generally cylindrical closure cap disposed over male threads about an open portion of a container, which capping head does not suffer from the disadvantages of the conventional capping heads as above-discussed. It is the primary objective of the instant invention to provide a capping head which fulfills this need.

A further objective of the instant invention concerns the provision of a capping head of the type abovedescribed wherein the thread forming roller thereof is constructed in a fashion which requires a relatively small space allotment in a multiple head arrangement, thus precluding an undesirable relationship between the pitch or center distance of the thread forming rollers to the corresponding centers of an affiliated filling mechanism.

Yet another objective of the instant invention consistent with that immediately set out above concerns the provision of a capping head which utilizes a ring-like or annular thread forming roller adapted to be disposed about and encircle the cylindrical closure cap for the container, the roller having an axis that lies within the top surface area of the closure cap rather than being disposed at a position external with respect thereto.

Another objective of the instant invention concerns the provision of a capping head which utilizes a large radius roller and thus provides the capability of forming threads in the closure cap in a gradual fashion.

Still another objective of the instant invention concerns a capping head utilizinga large radius annular roller which, by virtue of the large radius, is capable of covering a, greater linear segment of the thread during engagement whereby variations in the male thread provided on the container are less likely to be as closely followed as with a smaller radius roller having an external roller axis. i

These objects as well as others which will become apparent as the description proceeds are implemented by the novel capping head of the invention which, as aforestated, effects the thread forming of a generally cylindrical closure cap disposed over male threads provided aboutan open neck portion, such as the discharge opening, of a container. The capping head of the instant invention will be seen to comprise an annular or ring-like thread forming roller which has an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the closure cap. The annular roller is disposed within an open end of an elongated rotatable'housing, and means are provided for selectively positioning the annular roller about the closure cap such that the roller encircles the cap. After such positioning, the housing is tilted about its central axis to thereby offset the axis of the annular roller relative to the cap such that the inner periphery of the annular roller makes contact with the outer periphery of the closure cap. The housing is rotated in a conical eccentric manner about its central axis which effects eccentric rotation of the annular roller about and relative to the closure cap such that the inner periphery of the roller deformably engages the outer periphery of the cap and forms threads therein.

Expressed in another manner, the annular thread forming roller is moved about the closure cap such that the annular roller deformably engages the outer periphery of the closure cap with the central axis of the roller following a closed path within the top surface of the cap. This operation of the instant invention distinguishes same from prior art devices described at the outset to this specification wherein the thread forming roll or rollers provided are disposed with their axes external of the closure cap itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention itself will be better understood and further features and advantages thereof will become apparent from the following detailed description of one preferred structural embodiment, such description making reference to the appended sheets of drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view of the capping head of the instant invention depicted in an initial operational position;

FIG. 2 is a top sectional view of the capping head of the instant invention taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of the capping head of the instant invention taken along lines 3-3 of FIG; 4;

FIG. 4 is an elevational sectional view of the capping head of the invention rotated 90 from the position depicted in FIG. 1 and illustrating a subsequent operational mode thereof;

FIG. 5 is a top sectional view of the capping head of the instant invention taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6a is a schematic illustration, partially in section and in dotted-lines for clarity, illustrating the placement of the annular or ring-like thread forming roller of the instant invention over and about a generally cylindrical closure cap disposed over male threads'about an'open portion of a container;

FIG. 6b is a top plan view of the annular thread forming roller depicted in the position of FIG. 6a,:

FIG. 7a depicts the thread forming roller of the instant invention, partially in section and with dotted lines for illustrative clarity, in another operative position whereby the inner periphery of the thread forming roller is brought into engagement with the outer periphery of a closure cap;

FIG. 7b is a top plan view of the annular thread forming roller in the operative position of FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8a is another illustration of the annular thread forming roller of the instant invention in a further operative position in deformable engagement with a closure cap disposed over male threads provided about the open portion of a container; and

FIG. 8b is a top plan view of the annular thread forming roller depicted in the operative position of FIG. 8a.

Throughout the several views of the drawings, like constructional parts have been designated by the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED INVENTIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 4 thereof, the internal construction of the capping head of the instant invention can be seen. The capping head comprises a generally elongated housing designated by reference numeral 10, the housing being constructed of a structural material such as steel and being open at end 12 thereof, end 12 being adapted to fit over and encircle a container such as bottle 14 having a generally cylindrical closure cap 16 disposed over male threads or annular ridges 18 about an open portion or the discharge opening at the neck of the container.

The elongated housing 10 further includes an internal elongated spindle 20 disposed in the housing along the central axis 22 thereof. Spindle 20 is journalled at its upper and within the housing by means of a flexible coupling joint or spherical bearing 24 such that the housing 10 is rotatable about the spindle 20. Drive means such as a ring gear 26 disposed about the outer periphery of housing 10 and an associated drive gear 28 connected to a non-illustrated motive power source effect the rotation of housing 10 about the internal spindle 20 and its central axis 22.

An elongated main shaft 30 is fixedly coupled to the internal spindle assembly 20, the main shaft 30 being adapted to be inserted into a chuck assembly of a non illustrated press-like device so as to effect up and down or vertical movement of the entire capping head and thus effect alignment of the central axis 22 of housing to with the central axis of the container 14 with the closure cap 16 disposed thereon.

The internal spindle 20 it itself composed of a plurality of parts and incorporates an internal elongated or tubular housing 32 having radial and spaced openings 34 therein such that balls 36 of a spring loaded bearing assembly 38 can fit therethrough and communicate with the central hollow portion of the spindle housing 32. Thefunction and purpose of the bearing assembly 38 is to effect vertical alignment of the housing 10 with spindle 20 when balls 36 are located centrally by the outer portion of cam 56 when in its retracted position shown in FIG. 1.

Threadedly attached to the lower portion of the spindle housing 32 is a ball guide 40 which serves to effect vertical alignment of the spindle assembly 20 with respect to an offset bearing race 42 disposed in the main elongated housing 10. The bearing race 42 defines an annular bearing which is fixedly mounted within the elongated housing 10 with the central axis of the bear ing 42 being parallel and ofiset relative to the central axis 22 of the housing 10, such as can best be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the appended drawings. The lower extremity of the ball guide 40 threadedly engages a seal ring or chuck 44 which engages the closure cap 16 when the housing 10 and its internal spindle assembly 20 is positioned downwardly over the open neck of the container 14.

This positioning forms a tight seal between the container top and the closure liner. This positioning also compresses spring 56 through movement of stripper ring 48. The spindle assembly 20 further includes a central plunger assembly 46 disosed for longitudinal movement within the spindle housing 32 along the central axis 22 of the main housing 10, the central plunger assembly 46 being useful in centering the closure cap 16. Slidably disposed within the spindle housing 32 is an elongated piston 50 with an internal hydraulic chamber 52 to which is applied hydraulic pressure through inlet 54. Accordingly, upon application of hydraulic pressure, piston 50 is forced downwardly along the central axis 22 of the main housing in a sliding relationship with respect to the spindle housing 32 which remains stationary. Downward motion of the piston 50 effects a unique camming action of the housing 10 in a fashion to be discussed hereinbelow.

In this respect, it should be noted that the piston 50 carries a cam mechanism 56 which is provided with detent grooves 58. As the piston 50 is moved in the downward direction, balls 36 no longer hold bearing 38 concentric with spindle 32. The camming surface of cam mechanism 56 makes contact with a plurality of camming balls 60 and forces such camming balls 60 radially outward into contact with the offset bearing 42. This action can best be seen by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the appended drawings wherein the camming balls 60 in FIG. 2 are shown in the initial or inactive position whereby the central axis of the housing 10 is offset and parallel with respect to the central axis of the bearing 42. When the piston 50 is downwardly moved and the camming balls 60 are forced radially outward by virtue of the camming mechanism 56, such camming balls make contact with the inner race of the offset bearing 42 as shown in FIG. 3 and serves to center the spindle assembly within the offset bearing 42. This camming action effects a tilting of the housing 10 such as is depicted in FIG. 4 of the appended drawings whereby housing 10 will be seen to pivot about spherical bearing 24 so that its open end 12 is no longer aligned with the central axis 22 or the central axis of the container closure cap therebeneath. The significance of this unique tilting or pivoting action of the housing 10 will be gleaned from the following description of the annular thread forming roller of the instant invention.

Continuing, a ring-like or annular thread forming roller 62 is disposed in housing 10 at the open end 12 thereof and is rotatably carried in a thread roller carrier guide 64 which is slidably disposed in the longitudinal direction with respect to a mounting section 66 of the housing. The annular roller 62 is preferably disposed in the carrier guide 64 in an inclined planar position equal to the slope of the male threads 18 provided about the open neck of container 14. A'further annularor ringlike roller designated by reference numeral 68 is likewise disposed within housing 10 at the open end 12 thereof. Roller 68 is spaced from the thread forming roller 62 via a compression spring 70 and it should be noted that roller 68 preferably lies within a plane which is perpendicular to the central axis 22 of the housing 10. In the fashion to be described hereinbelow, annular roller 62 serves to effect the threaded deformation of the closure cap 16 about the male threads 18 provided in the container 14, whereas roller 68 defines a socalled pilfer-proof" roller adapted to engage a lower depending skirt portion 72 of the closure cap 16 and deform same about a lower annular ridge 74 provided on the open neck of the container 14 as shown in FIG. 6a.

The novel capping head of the instant invention operates in an entirely unique manner. Initially, theintemal spindle assembly 13 and particularly the piston 50 and plunger 46 thereof are in an upper-most position such as is depicted in FIG. I and the housing 10 is disposed about the central spindle assembly 20 in axial alignment therewith. The housing 10 is rotated about the central spindle assembly 20 by virtue of the ring and drive gears 26 and 28 as above-described. The housing 10 is joumalled with respect to the central spindle 20 by means of the spherical bearing 24 at one end, and by means of a contact point between the outer surface of the spindle housing 32 and inner race of the offset ball bearings 42 as depicted in FIG. 2. The entire capping head is then lowered upon a waiting container 14 having a closure cap 16 disposed over male threads 18 provided about the open neck portion thereof. The chuck assembly 44 serves to accurately center the housing 10 upon the underlying container 14 in the fashion depicted in FIG. 1.

When the housing 10 is so aligned, the annular roller 62 therein encircles the closure cap 16 since, as is apparent, the internal diameter of the annular roller 62 is somewhat larger than the external diameter of the cylindrical closure cap to allow the encircling fit. This operation and particularly the placement of the annular thread forming roller 62 about'the closurecap 16 can best be seen from an inspection of FIGS. 6a and 7a.

Once the housing 10 and particularly the internal annular thread forming roller 62 thereof is so positioned, hydraulic fluid is pumped into the hydraulic chamber 52 of the capping head. Piston 50 and its associated camming apparatus 56 moves in a downward longitudinal direction, as the camming surface of camming mechanism 56 contacts the camming balls 60 and forces same radially outwardly as depicted in FIG. 3 against the inner surface of the ofiset bearing race 42. This camming action effects a tilting or pivoting of the housing 10 about'a pivot point defined by the spherical bearing 24 such that the lower open end 12 of the housing 10 is offset relative to the central axis of the container l4 and closure cap 16 such as is depicted in FIG. 4. Downward travel of the camming assembly 56 and its connected piston 50 is limited by the eccentricity of bore in bearing 42 holder.

At this point, the housing 10 as well as the annular thread forming roller62 therein is rotating in an eccentric fashion with respect to the central axis 22 of the housing 10. Specifically, housing 10 is sweeping a conical eccentric rotational path. Due to-the tilting or shifting of the housing 10 in the above-described fashion, the inner peripheryof the annular thread forming roller 62 will make contact with the outer periphery of the closure cap 16 such as is depicted in FIGS. and 7b of the drawings. This contact is, in fact, a deformable engagement and, as the housing and the annular roller 62 continues to eccentrically rotate, the point of contact between the inner periphery of the annular roller 16 and the outer periphery of the closure cap 16 continues around a circle'such as is depicted in FIGS. 7b and 8b. Since the annular roller 62 is disposed in an inclined plane, the annular roller, being free to seek the helix of the thread of the container through the deformable closure wall, follows the thread helix during rotation of the housing 10. Further, sincethe annular roller is mounted for longitudinal movement within the housing 10, such thread following motion can be effected. Accordingly, the eccentric rotation of the thread forming roller 62 about and relative to the closure cap is such that the inner periphery of the thread forming roller deforrnably engages the outer periphery of the cap and forms threads therein, which threads are complementary to the male threads normally provided on the open neck of the container.

Expressed in different terms, though still descriptive of the type of thread forming function under discussion herein, it should be apparent that while the thread forming member deformably engages the outer periphery of the closure cap, the central axis of the thread forming roller follows a closed path within the top surface of the cap. This particular operational mode provides a capability of forming the thread more gradually due to the approach angle, by virtue of the relatively large radius of the roller. Further, by covering a greater linear setment of the thread during engagement, variations in the male thread form are less likely to be as closely followed as with the smaller radius of convenventional external rollers.

While the thread forming roller 62 is deformably engaging the closure cap 16 and forming threads therein, the inner periphery of the pilfer-proof annular roller 68 is engaging the lower depending skirt portions 72 of the closure cap 16 in a deformable manner so as to deform same about the lower annular ridge 74 about the open neck of the container 14. In this fashion, when the closure cap is removed by a user, the seal provided by the pilfer-proof roller 68 must first be removed.

Continuing, after a determined length of travel of the thread forming annular roller 62 along the male threads of the container 14, the plunger assembly 50 is retracted from the position depicted in FIG. 4 into the initial position depicted in FIG. 1. In this fashion, the deformable engagement and pressure of the various annular rollers 62 and 68 are released and, due to the now reversed camming operation of the plunger assembly, the housing 10 is returned to a concentric attitude about the container 14 such that its central axis 22 is aligned. The housing 10 along with its internal components are then withdrawn upwardly by the main shaft 30 while the thread forming roller 62 and its carrier 66 are returned to a raised position by the sping 70, in readiness to repeat the above-described cycle on the next succeeding closure cap and container.

it should be apparent from the foregoing detailed description that the objects set forth hereinabove have been successfully achieved. Moreover, while there is shown and described herein present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. ACCORDINGLY,

What is claimed is:

l. A capping head for effecting the thread forming of a generally cylindrical closure cap having an outer peripheral surface and a given external diameter, the cap being disposed over male threads about an open portion of a container, said capping head comprising a roller defining a ring-like structure and having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the cap, means for selectively positioning said roller about the cap such that said roller encircles the cap, means to offset said roller relative to the cap, and means to effect eccentric rotation of said roller about and relative to the cap such that the inner periphery of said roller deformably engages the outer periphery of the cap and forms threads therein.

2. A capping head for effecting the deformation of a generally cylindrical cap having a top surface and an outer peripheral surface, the cap being disposed over annular ridges about a container, said capping head comprising a roller defining a ring-like structure having a central axis, means for positioning said roller about the cap in an encircling offset relationship thereto, and means for eccentrically moving said roller about the cap such that said roller deformably engages the outer periphery of the cap with the central axis of said roller following a closed loop path within the top surface of the cap.

3. A capping head for effecting the thread forming of a closure cap disposed over male threads on the open neck of a container, said capping head comprising, in combination:

an elongated housing having an open end; an annular roller defining a ring-like structure disposed in said housing at said open end thereof;

means for positioning said housing and said annular roller over and substantially concentric with the open neck of the container such that said annular roller encircles the closure cap, the central axes of said housing and the closure cap thereby being substantially aligned;

means for tilting said housing from its central axis such that said open end thereof is offset from the closure cap and said annular roller deformably engages the closure cap; and

means for rotating said housing in a conical eccentric manner about its central axis, whereby said annular roller is eccentrically rotated about the closure cap while in deformable engagement therewith and forms threads therein.

4. A capping head as defined in claim 3, further including carrier means for said annular roller, said carrier means being slidably disposed within said housing to be movable in the longitudinal direction, said annular roller being mounted in said carrier means in an inclined planar position, whereby said'annular roller follows the slope of the male threads on the container neck and traces a helical path while being eccentrically rotated about the closure cap.

5. A capping head as defined in claim 4, further including an internal elongated spindle disposed in said housing along the central axis thereof, said spindle being journalled at one end thereof within said housing by means of a flexible coupling joint such that said housing is rotatable about said spindle, said spindle carrying a chuck for engaging the closure cap when said housing is positioned downwardly over the open neck of the container, an annular bearing fixedly mounted within said housing about said spindle with the central axis of said bearing being parallel and offset relative to the central axis of said housing, controllable camming means associated with said spindle operable to journal said spindle within said annular bearing and thereby tilt and pivot said housing about said flexible coupling oint.

6. A capping head as defined in claim 5, wherein said flexible coupling joint comprises a spherical bearing.

7. A capping head as defined in claim 5, wherein said spindle includes a central plunger assembly disposed for longitudinal movement therein along the central axis of said housing, said central plunger assembly terminating in a plate adapted to apply a downward and inward sealing pressure upon the top of the closure cap.

8. A capping head as defined in claim 7, wherein said controllable camming means comprises a camming sureluding an additional annular roller means disposed within said housing at the open end thereof, said additional annular roller means being spaced-apart from said thread forming annular roller and being adapted to deformably engage a lower skirt portion of the closure cap when said housing is tilted to thereby form a pilferproof seal of the closure cap to the container. 

1. A capping head for effecting the thread forming of a generally cylindrical closure cap having an outer peripheral surface and a given external diameter, the cap being disposed over male threads about an open portion of a container, said capping head comprising a roller defining a ring-like structure and having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the cap, means for selectively positioning said roller about the cap such that said roller encircles the cap, means to offset said roller relative to the cap, and means to effect eccentric rotation of said roller about and relative to the cap such that the inner periphery of said roller deformably engages the outer periphery of the cap and forms threads therein.
 2. A capping head for effecting the deformation of a generally cylindrical cap having a top surface and an outer peripheral surface, the cap being disposed over annular ridges about a container, said capping head comprising a roller defining a ring-like structure having a central axis, means for positioning said roller about the cap in an encircling offset relationship thereto, and means for eccentrically moving said roller about the cap such that said roller deformably engages the outer periphery of the cap with the central axis of said roller following a closed loop path within the top surface of the cap.
 3. A capping head for effecting the thread forming of a closure cap disposed over male threads on the open neck of a container, said capping head comprising, in combination: an elongated housing having an open end; an annular roller defining a ring-like structure disposed in said housing at said open end thereof; means for positioning said housing and said annular roller over and substantially concentric with the open neck of the container such that said annular roller encircles the closure cap, the central axes of said housing and the closure cap thereby being substantially aligned; means for tilting said housing from its central axis such that said open end thereof is offset from the closure cap and said annular roller deformably engages the closure cap; and means for rotating said housing in a conical eccentric manner about its central axis, whereby said annular roller is eccentrically rotated about the closure cap while in deformable engagement therewith and forms threads therein.
 4. A capping head as defined in claim 3, further including carrier means for said annular roller, said carrier means being slidably disposed within said housing to be movable in the longitudinal direction, said annular roller being mounted in said carrier means in an inclined planar position, whereby said annular roller follows the slope of the male threads on the container neck and traces a helical path while being eccentrically rotated about the closure cap.
 5. A capping head as defined in claim 4, further including an internal elongated spindle disposed in said housing along the central axis thereof, said spindle being journalled at one end thereof within said housing by means of a flexible coupling joint such that said housing is rotatable about said spindle, said spindle carrying a chuck for engaging the closure cap when said housing is positioned downwardly over the open neck of the container, an annular bearing fixedly mounted within said housing about said spindle with the central axis of said bearing being parallel and offset relative to the central axis of said housing, controllable camming means associated with said spindle operable to journal said spindle within said annular bearing and thereby tilt and pivot said housing about said flexible coupling joint.
 6. A capping head as defined in claim 5, wherein said flexible coupling joint comprises a spherical bearing.
 7. A capping head as defined in claim 5, wherein said spindle includes a central plunger assembly disposed for longitudinal movement therein along the central axis of said housing, said central plunger assembly terminating in a plate adapted to apply a downward and inward sealing pressure upon the top of the closure cap.
 8. A capping head as defined in claim 7, wherein said controllable camming means comprises a camming surface carried by said central plunger assembly and disposed in the area of mounting of said annular bearing within said housing, a plurality of camming balls disposed about said camming surface, guide means for said camming balls whereby said camming balls are forced radially outwardly into contact with said annular bearing when said plunger assembly is moved downward in the longitudinal direction.
 9. A capping head as defined in claim 3, further including an additional annular roller means disposed within said housing at the open end thereof, said additional annular roller means being spaced-apart from said thread forming annular roller and being adapted to deformably engage a lower skirt portion of the closure cap when said housing is tilted to thereby form a pilfer-proof seal of the closure cap to the container. 